Elected Officials

Robert LaColla - SupervisorBob, his wife Carole and family have called Fishkill home since 1988. He owns and operates a construction management and consulting business and has over thirty years of experience in business management. Bob has served the Town of Fishkill as a Town Board member, past member of the Planning Board and the Comprehensive Plan Committee. He has also served on the several Dutchess County Boards and Committees. In those roles, he has taken part as a decision maker and participant in topics ranging from land use law and planning to transportation and climate change. Bob's commitment to community service is lifelong. He is a former board member of the Mount Gulian Historic Site, and the Dutchess County Planning Board. He has been an active volunteer in many youth, community and trade organizations, such as technical advisor to the John Jay High School drama organization "Proscenium," which he had done for 13 years before his current term as Supervisor. Bob and his wife have three grown children and two grandchildren.

Ori Brachfeld - Board MemberOri Brachfeld was appointed to the town board in November 2014 to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Tony Curry. Ori was born and raised in Newburgh, NY and has lived his entire life in the Mid-Hudson Valley. He attended Mt. Saint Mary College and moved to Southern Dutchess County in 1989. He has lived in Fishkill with his family since 2001. Ori began his career at Dash Lock & Key Service Inc. in the late 80s and in 2000, he became the President and CEO. Ori has been active in several community organizations including The Renegades Pitch for Kids Foundation. Ori's commitment to community and business is signified by his nine year tenure as chairman of the Beacon Economic Development Task Force and his nine years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Southern Chamber of Commerce (GSDCC). In 2009, Ori was chosen as one of six people to facilitate the merger between the GSDCC and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Ori remained on the consolidated Board of Directors and served as Chairman of the Board of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2014. Ori and his wife Gena have been residents of the Town of Fishkill for 14 years and together they enjoy raising their daughter Eddye.

Acting Liaison to the following committees:

Assessor Program

Board of Assessment Review

City of Beacon

Building, Fire, Planning & Zoning

Human Resources

Town Water & Sewer

Veterans Affairs

Zoning Board of Appeals

﻿Kurt L. Buck - Board Member﻿Kurt has been a resident of the town of Fishkill for over three decades. Kurt has attended all the various schools in the Wappinger Central School District, Kurt has two teenage boys. He retired from the Peekskill Police Department as a Police Detective after 20 years of serving the citizenry of Peekskill with distinction, diligence and dedication. His work ethic and professionalism are reflected in the numerous commendations and service awards he received as a police officer and police detective throughout his robust career. While these accolades are meaningful, Kurt found that the recognition and appreciation of his fellow officers and everyday citizens were most important to him. Kurt has always found great fulfillment and satisfaction in public service and thanks to your support he can continue to do so as your Councilman for the Town of Fishkill.During Kurt's law enforcement career, he came in contact with thousands of citizens and leveraged this opportunity to learn and to understand their distinct needs and expectations. This ground level based experience is key to what Kurt plans to bring to the table in his role as Councilman. He believes strongly that his fresh viewpoints and out-of-box thinking will position him favorably and enable the Town Board to optimize its services to its taxpayers while still maintaining the core conservative values that make our nation great. Kurt was also a member of Fishkill's Zoning Board of Appeals.

Acting Liaison to the following committees:

Emergency Preparedness Committee

Emergency Services - Ambulance, Police, Fire & Animal Control

Highway

Justice Court

Town Clerk

Town Facilities

Town of Wappinger

Larry Cohen - Board MemberLarry has been a resident of Dutchess Junction, a small hamlet in the southernmost part of Fishkill for over twenty-five years. With his wife Michelle, they have two daughters, Melissa and Rebecca who are fourth generation Town residents. Larry believes being a parent is a gift and an honor.

Since his arrival, Larry has been involved in community affairs publishing a local newspaper printing the minutes of Fishkill and Beacon Board meetings, school district meetings as well as local events to keep residents informed. This continued with serving on the Town of Fishkill Parks Committee and Conservation Boards. Larry was also elected to three terms on the Beacon City School District Board where he served as Chair of the Finance and Audit Committees for six years. He served as Chair and board member of several local nonprofits and is currently the Executive Director of a local nonprofit Human Services organization serving residents of the Hudson Valley. Prior to joining the full time nonprofit field, Larry was involved in the family business manufacturing apparel for over twenty-five years.

Larry rallied the support of all four party lines to run for his seat on the Town Council. His belief that is that at this level of government, everything should be bipartisan. We aren’t here to pass legislation; we are here to make our community a strong, safe place to live for generations to come. There should be no greater common goal.

Acting Liaison to the following committees:

Affordable Housing

Environmental Advisory Board

Parks

Planning Board

Trails Committee

﻿Doug McHoul - Board Member﻿Doug McHoul was elected to the Fishkill Town Board in November 2013 and began his first term as Councilman in January 2014. He is a lifelong resident of Southern Dutchess County. In the 1960's, his parents opened the McHoul Funeral Home in Hopewell Junction. Doug followed in their footsteps and in 2004 became a 3rd generation NYS Licensed Funeral Director. In 2011, he and his sisters opened a second location in the Village of Fishkill, where Doug serves as President and Managing Funeral Director. Doug is an active community participant and has served on the board of directors for several local non-profit and other civic organizations, including the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum, Greather Southern Dutchess and Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Exchange Club of Southern Dutchess, American Cancer Society, B.S.A. Hudson Valley and more. Prior to being elected in 2013, Doug served on the Town's Zoning Board of Appeals. His wife Stephanie owns and operates Graphic Nature, LLC, a graphic design business located in Fishkill. They have two young children who attend St. Mary's School and the DeKinder pre-school program, both located in the town as well. As a parent of young children, local business owner and taxpayer, Doug plans to utilize his experience and skills in order to enhance Fishkill's potential as a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.Acting Liaison to the following committees:

Dial-A-Ride

Historian

Receiver of Taxes

Recreation & Senior Center Programs

Town of East Fishkill

Village of Fishkill

﻿Glenn Scofield - Highway Superintendent﻿Glenn Richard Scofield was born in the Village of Fishkill on August 20, 1941 and still lives in the same home on 14 Robinson Street with Isabel McDonough. He went to Fishkill Elementary School and graduated from Wappingers Central School District. He has been a member of the Village Fire Department, Protection Engine Company for 47 years. Glenn was Lieutenant, Captain and twice Chief and is presently the Deputy Chief and Trustee of the Company. Glenn has worked for the Town of Fishkill Highway Department since 1961 and has been the Highway Superintendent from 1970 to the present time. He is the past President of the Dutchess County Highway Association and was on the Executive Committee. Glenn was a part time Police Officer for the Village of Fishkill in 1963 to 1970 and also a part time Deputy Sheriff for Dutchess County from 1963 to the present time. He has four grown children, Glenn Jr. is a Captain for the City of Beacon Police Department, Keith is an Architect in Poughkeepsie for the Firm Liscum, McCormack and VanVoorhis, Dean is a Foreman in the Town of Fishkill Highway Department and his daughter Ryann is an Accountant for Saugerties Savings Bank.

Darlene Bellis - Town ClerkDarlene is a lifelong resident of Fishkill. She worked as Planning Board Secretary in Village of Fishkill from 1989-1992. She has been employed at the Town of Fishkill since 1992 and has served as the Town Clerk since January 1999. Darlene has two (2) daughters and one (1) grandson. She has been actively involved with the United Way since 1993 and has been Team Captain for the Fishkill March of Dimes for the past two years. Darlene is involved with several ministries within her church.

Harold Epstein - Town JusticeBorn in Newburgh, New York on April 7,1947. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1969 and Albany Law School in 1972. He was admitted to practice law in New York in 1973. He is a partner in the law firm of Epstein & Epstein. He was a Dutchess County Assistant Public Defender and a former Town Justice in the Town of Poughkeepsie. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the New York state Magistrates Association. He has been a life long resident of Dutchess County.

Robert J. Rahemba - Town JusticeBorn in Poughkeepsie, New York on May 5, 1947 and has been a lifelong resident of Dutchess County. He graduated from Niagara University in 1969 and the University of Toledo Law School in 1972. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1973 in New York State. He is a sole practitioner in the from of Robert J. Rahemba, Esq., located in Fishkill, New York since 1984. He is a member of the Dutchess County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. He is also a member of the New York State Magistrates Association.